President’s Message These Laws recognize our inherent right to harvest The Métis have always supported and protected our while acknowledging our inherent responsibility for families, our community and our way of life. We have good conservation and resource management. Any done this for many generations, and continues today. Métis Harvester abiding by the Metis Laws of the We must remember the actions and leadership of Harvest will be protected if they are prosecuted or those generations before us. Just recently, delegates harassed by the Province. from across the Métis Homeland gathered here in Winnipeg – the birthplace of the Métis Nation and Heart of the Métis Nation Homeland – to The Métis have an inherent right commemorate Cuthbert Grant Jr. to harvest. We will continue to It was 200 years ago on June 19th that Grant led a exercise this right and anyone group of Métis across Frog Plain to deliver supplies Métis Harvesters are responsible hunters, fishers, who tries to tell us otherwise will to their partners on Lake Winnipeg. They did so and trappers. We are the original conservationists. find themselves on the costly side in defiance of an oppressive proclamation by the Hudson Bay Company (HBC), which sought to The Métis understand this truth: with rights come of a losing argument. responsibilities. Our people harvest in a way that prevent them from freely trading and providing for ensures there is fish, wildlife, and plants for food and their families. On their way, Governor Semple of the medicine left for future generations. There seems to be some confusion regarding the HBC and his men confronted them. The Métis were inherent rights of the Métis People. Recently, the victorious. Now known by many as the Battle of Seven The Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) – the self- RM of Pipestone passed a resolution and created Oaks, this served as a catalyst for the crystallization governing body of Manitoba’s Métis Community a petition calling on the Provincial government to of our identity as the Métis Nation. For the Métis, this –developed the Metis Laws of the Harvest through regulate Métis Harvesters and create special zones is rightly known as La Victoire de la Grenouillère – the consultation with our Elders and Métis Citizens. for Métis hunting. They intended to bring this to Victory of Frog Plain. the Association of Manitoba Municipalities (AMM) Again, I wish to emphasize the Métis have inherent Western District Meeting. Using common sense, and rights as Aboriginal people. We will defend these Find the latest news online knowing their jurisdiction, the AMM refused to hear rights. They are not subject to the whims, fallacies it. or actions of outside agencies, governments or ManitobaMetisFederationOfficial What the RM fails to understand is neither they, individuals. We take our responsibilities seriously. nor the Province, nor anyone else has the ability to Our Metis Laws of the Harvest prove this. extinguish the existing and inherent rights of the @MBMetis_MMF In closing, I offer my thoughts and prayers for those Métis Nation, as recognized and affirmed in Section who are shut-in or are having difficult times through 35 of the Canadian Constitution. The Métis have an failing health, sickness or loss. May you find company, ManitobaMetisMMF inherent right to harvest. We will continue to exercise encouragement, and help through your connections this right and anyone who tries to tell us otherwise with family, friends and community. I wish you the will find themselves on the costly side of a losing www.mmf.mb.ca best as you enjoy these warm summer days. argument. Meeqwetch, President David Chartrand, LL.D. (hon), O.M. However, the interactive resource isn’t created solely Learning Métis History for use in schools. with the Legislative “This project isn’t just for students to use,” explained Assembly of Assiniboia Georgina Liberty, Director of TSN at the MMF and member of the Advisory Committee that created the Interactive Resource interactive resource. “Anyone who is interested in Using web-based learning tools and interactive learning about history and the Legislative Assembly resources, Grade 11 students in Manitoba can now of Assiniboia from a Métis perspective can use this learn about the crucial impact Métis people have had resource.” socially and politically in Manitoban and Canadian Left to Right: Georgina Liberty, Janel Stevenson, Laurie The project was nominated for a Manitoba Service history. Barkwell, Linda Connor, Scott Delaegher, Grant Anderson, Jeff Excellence Award by the Manitoba Department of Legault, Greg Pruden, and Alison Rogan. Developed over a period of 5 years, the Legislative Indigenous and Municipal Relations. A celebratory Assembly of Assiniboia Interactive Resource was about history through interactive simulation luncheon was held June 17, 2016 at the Royal Bank of created through a partnership between the Louis activities; second, teaching historical content Canada Convention Centre in Winnipeg for nominees Riel Institute (LRI), the Tripartite Self-Government through presentations, discussions and research; of the 11th Annual Manitoba Service Excellence Negotiations (TSN) department of the Manitoba and third, using analytical or evaluative strategies to Awards. A ceremony at the luncheon honoured Métis Federation (MMF), and the Manitoba apply learned knowledge. The final phase comprises all nominees and winners for their hard work and Government Departments of Indigenous & the instructor’s assessment of whether learning contributions to service excellence in Manitoba. Municipal Relations and Education & Training. The outcomes were satisfactorily reached. The Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia Interactive interactive teaching and learning project focuses Some of the interactive learning activities the resource Resource has a teaching guide available online in on the historical Legislative Assembly of Assiniboia uses include: using Google Earth to find streets and both French and English. The web-based resource (LAA), which was formed by Louis Riel’s provisional roads named after people who lived in the Red River was created primarily for the Grade 11 Canadian government to negotiate the creation of the province Settlement during the time of the LAA, writing and History curriculum in Manitoba, but its versatility also of Manitoba and its entrance into Confederation with illustrating a short graphic novel about a historical makes it applicable to a variety of classes, including Canada. Red River inhabitant, and taking a virtual tour of the social studies, math, science, art, physical education, By working through a series of interactive modules, St. Boniface Museum to create a list of items that a language arts, and more. You can find the resource the resource uses a four-phase learning process to Red River student in the nineteenth century might tool at www.legislativeassemblyofassiniboia.ca. engage students by: first, provoking their curiosity have carried in their backpack. Fun in the Sun at Selkirk Park Tuesday, June 21st was a beautiful sunny day at Selkirk Park as people joined together to celebrate the 11th Annual Aboriginal Day Festivities hosted by the Manitoba Metis Federation Selkirk Local. Families and friends of this free event were treated to live fiddling, jigging, and singing performances by a wide range of Metis entertainers including this year’s headliner: Jerry Sereda. A free pancake breakfast that began at 9 am was provided by Big Chad of Bank Approved Vickar Community Chevrolet on the Mayor said. Regent Avenue West in Winnipeg. New to the annual afternoon festivities was a deer hide stretching and Manitoba Metis Federation (MMF) President tanning demonstration hosted by Louis Riel Institute Chartrand also noted the high level of regard the City (LRI). A petting zoo, face-painting, bounce-a-roos of Selkirk carries for its Métis citizens. also made sure everyone in attendance had a great time. “It’s always a great honour to be here and see the level of respect there is for the Métis in Selkirk with During the event’s opening ceremonies Larry all of the Métis Flags Flying throughout the City,” said Johannson, Mayor of Selkirk, stated how appreciative MMF President David Chartrand. “It truly resonates Selkirk is to have such a strong relationship with its the relationships and partnerships that can be built Métis citizens. between elected bodies.” “It’s certainly a pleasure to be here today. The Métis A big thank you to all the contributors, sponsors and were very instrumental in making Manitoba, and volunteers who helped to organize and plan this free making Canada, the safe and free place it is today,” event for everyone to enjoy. Minister Denise Thomas honoured for decades of Métis woman receives work in the Métis Nation award at Manitoba Legislature recognizing years of work with Indigenous youth After decades of dedication and commitment to the advancement of education in Métis youth, Sharon Parenteau of the Louis Riel Institute (LRI) received the respected 2016 Manitoba Education Research Network’s (MERN) Research Achievement Award on June 17th. Sharon accepted the award in the Golden Boy Dining Room at the Manitoba Legislative Building while her grandchildren cheered her on. The award ceremony took place during a luncheon with fellow nominees and award winners. Co-Chairs of the Ka Ni Kanichihk Council, Kimberley Puhach and Sharon Parenteau, present Minister Denise Thomas with Grandmother Award. MERN is an organization that works to advance Our Grandmothers and Grandfathers are the Ka Ni Kanichihk organizers. “It is by way of their the quality of education in Manitoba by bringing Knowledge Keepers of our Métis Nation. It is through remembering and sharing that we retrace our steps hundreds of educators together to work on various their wisdom and leadership we learn about our back to knowing who we are as Peoples.” curriculums and share it with the province. This is legacy as a distinct Nation with specific values and something no other organization does. This work The Gala included Ojibwe prayer and honour songs, principles.